Automatic expression control for player-pianos.



M. S. HOWARD. AUTOMATIC EXPRESSION CONTROL FOR PLAYER PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31,1915.

Patented June 5. 1917.

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' BY MMwnrg/fl UNITED STATES PATENT oFFrcE.

ivronnon s. HOWARD, or wnuxon, rows.

AUTOMATIC EXPRESSION CONTROL ron PLAYER-rhinos.

Specification of Letters Fatent.

Patented June 5, 1917.

Application filed July 31, 1915. Serial No. 42,971.

I To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, Mormon S. HOWARD, a citizen'of the United States, and a resident of Waukon, in the county of Allamakee and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Exmatic whose action is regulated by air pressure whose varying degress are attained through the coaction of auxiliary openings provided in the tracker bar, and openings provided in the music sheet, whereby maximum efliciency in the reproduction of the accent touch and expression employed by a musician in rendering a composition, may be attained.

A further object of the invention is to provide control means for the individual Pneumatics, by equipping them with Valve controlled pneumatics regulated by the control of admission of'air at atmospheric pressure to them, through the action of a music roll in controlling openings in the tracker bar,- these valve controlled pncumatics in turn actuating cut-off valves for controlling the degree'of vacuum obtained in the striking pneumatics whereby the force of their strokes may be automatically varied and controlled, so that delicate and accurate degrees of expression and control may be acquired.

A still further object is to provide a simple, durable, and eflicient device of the class set out, and one which is inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which- Figure 1 represents a view in section taken vertically and transversely through the operating mechanism of a player piano, em-

' bodying the construction I provide.

Fig. 2 represents a partialview similar to Fig. 1, showing the position of the valve when the passageway between the striking pneumatic and the exhaust chamber is cut off Fig. 3 represents a fragmentary view in perspective of the cutoff valve'and control pneumatic therefor.

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary elevational view of the tracker 'bar' and music sheet used in connection with the device.

The operating mechanism for the player piano here shown is one of conventional type and is used merely in order to illustrate the application of my invention, it being understood that the invention is not re stricted to use in connection with any particular form of operating mechanism.

At 5 is indicated the tracker bar over which the perforated music sheet 6 passes in controlling the operation of the mechanism in a well known manner. The chambers 7' and 8 are 1n commumcatron, and

, form the exhaust chamber of the operating mechanism. Each of the striking pneumatics 9 through whose action the notes of the piano are controlled, communicates with the exhaust chamber through a passage indicated at 10. The valve mechanisms through whose operation the establishment of communication between the striker pneumatic and the exhaust chamber is controlled, are indicated at 11 and 12. Communication between the tracker bar and the valve 11 is established through the-usual tube and passage indicated generally at 13. These valve mechanisms operate in the usual well known manner and it is therefore not necessary to set out their operation here.

In my co-pending application Serial. 35572, filed June 22 1915, I obtain control of the striking pneumatic through the admission of atmospheric air thereto, by means of the cooperation with an auxiliary opening'provided in the tracker bar and communicating in one instance directly with the striking pneumatic and in another in stance with a valve means for controlling the admission of air to the pneumatic, of a music sheet having perforations through whose registrationwith the auxiliary openings to a greater or'less extent,cthe admission of air through this opening is controlled. In my present invention the same arrangement is used in controlling the valve pneumatic through whose operation the cut-off valve is actuated. The auxiliary openings which are preferably provided transversely of the, tracker cated at 14:, the usual openings in the tracker bar being indicated at 15. The tubes 13 communicate with these latter openings 15. The music-sheet 6, as set out 1n myco-pending application, is provided.

with the perforations or openings 16 adapted to pass over the openings lo'for admitting air through the tubes 13 whereby to control the striking pneumaties. The openings 16 are provided with portions 17 arranged in alinement with and adapted to pass over the auxiliary openings 14: for admitting air through the latter. This arrangement of the music sheet 6 and the auxiliary openings in the tracker bar is set out in detail in my co-pending application and lneed not, therefore, be further explained The valve control pneumatic, previously mentioned, is indicated at 18 and ranged in the upper portion of a chamber 19. which latter opens directly into the striking pneumatic 9 at one end. The passageway 10 opens into the outer end of the chamber 19. An oscillatory valve 20 is arranged transversely of, passage 10, and is provided with a bore 21 which may be moved into and out of registration with the passage by turning the valve 20 in one di rection or another. The valve is suitably mounted on the pivot pins 22, one of which is extended and bent at right angles to form an arm 23 which loosely extends through an eye 24: connected to the base or moving element of the valve control pneumatic 18. From the construction set out it will be readily seen that when the valve control pneumatic 18 expands the arm 23 will be moved downwardly and the valve 20 shifted so as to move the bore 21 out of alinement with the passage 10 thus cutting ofi communication between the striker pneumatic 9 and the exhaust chamber 8. When, however, the control'pneumatic 18 is collapsed, the valve will be shifted so as to bring the bore in alinement with the passage, and thus establish communication between the striker pneumatic and the exhaust chamber. Communicating with the valve control pneumatic is a tube 25. The latter leads to one of the auxiliary openings 14 provided in the tracker bar and establishes a passage between the auxiliary opening and the valve control pneumatic. This passage communicates with the exhaust chamber 8 through the medium of a bleed hole providedat 26.

en the auxiliary opening. 14 .and its associated opening 15 are closed by the solid portion of the music sheet, the air in the tube 25 is exhausted through the bleed bar, are indi- -ing 14 remains is ar-.

When the parts are in this position, the valve 20 is in the position shown in Fig. 1,

and free communication through the passage 10 is established. Should the opening 15 be uncovered under these conditions, in strikinga note, while the auxiliary open shifting to the right, as regards Fig. 1, would close connnunication between passage 10 and the outside atmosphere, and thus the air in the striker pneumatic 9 would be entirely exhausted through the exhaust chamber 8, and the striker pneumatic would collapse with maximum force, thus striking the piano note with maximum degree of force.

covered, the valve 12 in Now if the auxiliary opening 14 is uncovered by one of the perforations in the music sheet, atmospheric air will be admitted through the tube 25 and a higher pressure will thus exist in this tube than in the exhaust chamber 8, this pressure depending upon the relative areas of the perforation admitting the air to the tube, and the bleed hole 26. Now if one of the openings 15 is uncovered under these conditions in striking a note, the air will become exhausted from the striker pneumatic 9, and as soon as the pressure in the striker pneumatic falls below the pressure in the tube 25, the valve control pneumatic 18 will expand, thus shifting the valve 20 into position to close entirely or partially the passage 10, thus arresting to a greater or less extent the collapsing action of the striker pneumatic 9, so that a modified stroke of the striker pneumatic will result, and a lighter blow be delivered to the piano note. Thus through the regulation of the admission of air to the valve control pneumatic 18, the action of the striking pneumatic 9 is controlled, so that blows of varying degree of force are imparted to the piano notes, and thus delicate variations in the degrees of loudness may be attained, and the qualities of expression, accent, and touch incident to the rendition of a composition by a pianist be successfully and accurately reproduced.

In order that the action of the striker pneumatic 9 in expanding, subsequently to the closing of the opening 15 may be assured, a by-pass 27 communicating at one end with passage 10 and at the other end with the chamber 19, is provided. This bypass is normally closed at its inner end by the flap ValV6 28rWl11Ch will open to admit air to the striking pneumatic 9 in case the valve 20 should be in such position asito close communication through the passage 10,

at the end of a note when the valve 12 returns to its normal position as indicated in Fig. 1.

Although I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 may desire to make such changes in the construction,

combination, and arrangement of parts connecting them whereby the striking pneu matic may be actuated for striking a note, said means including an exhaust chamber and a passage communicating with the exhaust chamber and with the striking pneumatic, the combination of a chamber communicating with the striking pneumatic and passaga'a valve control pneumatic arranged within the chamber, a passage connecting the valve pneumatic with an auxiliary open- 7 ing inv the tracker bar and being-provided with a bleed opening communicating with the exhaust chamber, an oscillatory cutoff valvearranged within the first passage,

an arm operably connected with the valve,

' an eye arranged on'the valve control pneuby the valve maybe oscillated for opening matic and loosely engaging the arm whereand closing the first passage as the valve pneumatic is expanded and collapsed, a bypass communicating with the first'pa'ssage and with the striker pneumat c, a flap valve controlling the by-pass adjacent the striker pneumatic, and means whereby the auxiliary opening in the tracker bar may-be uncovered to various degrees.

2. Iii a player piano including a tracker bar, exhaust chamber, striking pneumatic,

and passage communicatmg with the exhaust chamber and striking pneumatic, the combination of a chamber communicating with the striking pneumatic' and passage, a valve control pneumatic arranged within the chamber, a passage connecting the valve pneumatic with an auxiliary opening in the tracker bar and being provided with a bleed opening communicating with the exhaust chamber, an oscillatory cut-ofi valve arranged within the' first passage, an arm operably connected with the valve, an eye arranged on the valve control pneumatic and loosely engaging the arm whereby the valve may be oscillated for opening and closing the first passage as the valve expanded and collapsed, and means whereby the auxiliary opening in the tracker bar may be uncovered to various degrees.

3. In a player piano including a tracker bar, striking pneumatic, exhaustlchamber, and passage connecting the striking pneumatic and exhaust chamber, the combination of a chamber communicating with the strikpneumatic is o ing pneumatic and passage, a valve control pneumatic arranged within thechamber, a

passage connecting the valve pneumatic with an auxiliary opening in the tracker bar and being provided with a'bleed opening communicating with the exhaust chamber, an

oscillatory cut-cit valve agranged within the I arranged with respect to the striking pneumatic in such manner as to be exposed to the pressure attaining in the striking pneumatic, a passage communicating with the control pneumatic and with an auxiliary opening in the tracker bar, communicating means between the exhaust chamber and the valve control pneumatic whereby the latter may be collapsed when the auxiliary opening in thetracker bar is closed in order to maintain the cut-ofi valve in position for allowing communication through the passage, and means for controlling theadmission of air through the auxiliary opening to said valve control pneumatic.

5. A player piano including a striking pneumatic, a passage through which air in the striking pneumatic may be exhausted, a cut-off valve for controlling communication through said passage, a valve control pneumatic operably connected with the cut-ofii valve, and exposed to the pressure in the striking pneumatic, a tracker bar having an opening with which the valve control pneumatic is in communication, means whereby the air within the valve control pneumatic may be exhausted when said opening is closed, and means for controlling admission of air through the opening to the valve control pneumatic.

6. A player piano including a striker pneumatic, a passage through which air may be exhausted from the pneumatic, a valve for controlling communication through said passage, a normally collapsed valve control pneumatic operably connected with said valve and subject on one side to the pressure in the striker pneumatic, and means whereby pneumatic, and means whereby the air inthe latter may be exhausted for striking a note, the combination of a valve for limiting the amount of air withdrawn from the striking pneumatic, a valve control pneumatic, operably connected with the valve, and exposed on one side to the pressure attaining in the striking pneumatic and means for exposing the other side of the valve control pneumatic to pressure of various de grees whereby to cooperate with the pressure attaining in the strikin pneumatic for controlling the operation of the valve control pneumatic.

8. A player piano, including an exhaust chamber, a striking pneumatic having communicating means with the exhaust cham- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, I). 0."

ber, a tracker bar, a' passage leading from an opening therein and also having a communication with the exhaust chamber, a control pneumatic exposed on one side to the pressure attaining in the striking pneumatic, and on the other side to the pressure attaining in the said passage, a cut-off valve arranged in the communicating means between the striking pneumatic and exhaust chamber and operably connected with the control pneumatic, and means for controlling the opening in the tracker bar.

MONROE S. HOWARD.

Commissioner of Patents, 

